Rapid Assessment of Beetles and DNA Barcoding of Selected Metapocyrtus Species in

WMSU Experimental Forest, Zamboanga City

Chapter I
Introduction

Background of the Study

Zamboanga is a biogeographic area in western Mindanao that includes the island of

Basilan and is politically part of Region IX, or the Zamboanga Peninsula (Vallejo, 2011;
Dickerson et al., 1928). Mindanao is said to have originated by the accretion or merger of many
islands, contributing to its extraordinary biodiversity and diverse species composition (Hall,
1998; Heaney et al.,1998). The island is divided geologically into two blocks, the island-arc-
related eastern-central Mindanao block and the continental Zamboanga Peninsula, and
biogeographically into four subregions, with the Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan belonging to
one region and neighboring islands Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to another. (Yumul et al. 2004; Vallejo,
2011). According to reports, the Zamboanga Peninsula results from many continental fragments,
including the Palawan microcontinental block that drifted from mainland Asia and the Borneo
block (Yumul et al., 2004). According to its flora and fauna, the Zamboanga peninsula's biotic
area is highly similar to Bornean species and is significantly different from Eastern Mindanao
(Dickerson et al. 1928; Vallejo, 2011).

Metapocyrtus Heller 1912 is a very varied genus of the tribe Pachyrhynchini that is found
solely in the Philippine islands. It is distinguished from other members of the tribe
Pachyrhynchini by the following general diagnostic characteristics: "rostrum not swollen
apically, basally with a more or less strongly defined transverse groove, eyes moderately convex
but not bulging, scape of antenna reaching at least to or beyond the hind margin of eye."
(Schultze,1925). It now has around 230 recognized species and seven subgenera, with several
undescribed taxa (Yap and Gapud 2008; Yoshitake 2017; Bollino et al. 2020; Cabras and
Medina, 2021). The subgenus Orthocyrtus Heller 1912 is one of the subgenera of the genus
Metapocyrtus. Its individuals are notable for their vast size. Cabras et al. have published a census
of the 38 species found in the Philippines (2021).
 DNA barcoding of animals using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit one was
established by Herbert et al. (2003) as a new approach to taxon recognition and has been an
essential tool in delineating species, identifying new species, and establishing phylogenetic
relationships (Herbert et al. 2003).

Objectives

General:

 To assess the diversity of Metapocyrtus species and establish its phylogenetic

relationship

Specific:

 To provide accurate species identification and to describe its morphological

characteristics
 To supplement morphological data in delineating species

Significance of the Study

Metapocyrtus is one of many genera that comprise the tribe Pachyrhynchini. Members of
this genus are unique to the Philippines, and several new species have been reported lately. Due
to its flightlessness and reliance on the forest, this taxon is very vulnerable to extinction. Given
the country's current pace of deforestation, the majority of species are designated as Vulnerable.
The finding of new species on Mindanao is unsurprising given the island's status as one of the
last frontiers of biodiversity in the Philippines and the island's limited coleopterological research.
The Zamboanga region is one of Mindanao's least researched, particularly for its beetle
biodiversity. Only a few studies on the beetle fauna of Zamboanga have been published, most of
which are taxonomic. Pachyrhynchini, which has a 90% endemism rate in the Philippines and
members with a restricted geographic distribution and are nearly exclusively found in one
biotope, has received the least attention in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Due to their restricted
geographic range, flightlessness, and need in wooded environments, these weevils are often
found only in distinct biogeographic zones. Approximately five Pachyrhynchini species have
been described from Zamboanga to date. Several specimens of Metapocyrtus were obtained
during recent trips to Zamboanga, including the new species reported herein. DNA barcoding
should be used in conjunction with morphological data to aid species identification. A precise
identification, particularly of Pachyrhynchini, should be developed since these species are highly
endemic and vulnerable to habitat degradation. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit
one gene, which is one of the most often utilized in animal DNA barcoding, has exhibited
substantial divergence amongst closely related taxa in the animal world.

Scope and Delimitation

The focus of this study is to identify biodiversity measure, morpho-ecological groupings

and demonstrate phylogenetic relationship among Metapocyrtus species.

It delimits that, this study will be conducted within the locale of WMSU Experimental
Forest, Zamboanga City.

Chapter II
Review of Related Literature

Mindanao Island is the Philippines' second biggest island, with an area of 97,530
kilometers square. It is split into six political areas and five faunal biogeographic subregions.
Mindanao Island's unique biogeographic history was established as a result of paleo-island
accumulation in known suture zones (Yumul 2003). Given its recent link to a number of nearby
shallow-water islands during the previous Pleistocene sea-level changes (e.g., Samar, Leyte,
Bohol, Dinagat, and Siargao). This inter-island connectedness resulted in the creation of the
Greater Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex, which facilitated faunal interchange
and gene flow across species. (Rohling et al. 1998; Brown and Diesmos 2001). Despite recent
efforts to catalog the island's coleopterological biodiversity, some species, including two new
taxa discovered in Davao City and Bukidnon, remain unnamed. Based on the characteristics
given by Cabras et al., the new species was assigned to the subgenus Orthocyrtus (2018).
Metapocyrtus is one of many genera that comprise the tribe Pachyrynchini (Yap, 2008; Bollino
& Sandel, 2017; Cabras et al., 2018; Cabras & Medina, 2018; Bollino & Sandel, 2019; Cabras et
al., 2019). They are clearly distinguishable from Pachyrhynchus Germar 1824 by the presence of
antennae behind the hind eye and a transverse groove between the head and rostrum (Schultze
1923, 1925). Due to its flightlessness and strong reliance on the forest, this taxon is very
vulnerable to extinction, and given the country's current pace of deforestation, the majority of
species are designated as Vulnerable (DAO2017). Several new species of Metapocyrtus Heller
1912 have been found in Mindanao, and several are awaiting description (Cabras et al., 2018;
Cabras & Medina, 2018; Bollino & Sandel, 2019; Cabras et al., 2019). In Mindanao, 5 new
species of Orthocyrtus have recently been described- M. (O.) mansaka, Cabras, Bollino &
Medina, 2018, M. (O.) ginalopezae Cabras & Medina, 2019, M. (O.) davaoensis Cabras, Medina
& Bollino, 2021, M. (O.) hirakui Cabras, Medina & Bollino, 2021, M. (O.) barsevskisi Cabras,
Villanueva, & Medina, 2021 (Cabras et al. 2018, 2021; Cabras and Medina, 2019, Cabras et al.
2021a, Cabras et al. 2021b) of which three are known from Davao region, one from Bukidnon,
and another one from Surigao.

References

Bollino M, Medina MN, Cabras A (2020) Three new Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912(Curculionidae,
Entiminae, Pachyrhynchini) from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Journal of Tropical
Coleopterology 1(1), 26–38

Cabras A, Bollino M, Medina MN (2018) A new species of the subgenus Orthocyrtus, genus
Metapocyrtus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Pachyrhynchini) from Mindanao, with
notes on its ecology. Baltic Journal of Coleopterology, 18(1): 39–46.

Cabras A, Medina MN (2019) Metapocyrtus ginalopezae sp. n., a new Orthocyrtus from Davao
de Oro, Mindanao Island. Baltic Journal Coleopterology, 19(2): 205–211.

Cabras A, Bollino M, Medina MN (2021) Two new species of the genus Metapocyrtus Heller,
1912 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Pachyrhynchini), subgenus Orthocyrtus Heller,
1912, from Mindanao Island, Philippines. ZooKeys, 1029: 139–154 (2021) doi:
10.3897/zookeys.1029.63023 https://zookeys.pensoft.net

Cabras A, Villanueva RJ, Medina MN (2021). A New Species of Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912
(Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Journal of Tropical
Coleopterology. 2(1),35–41

Cabras A, Medina MN (2021) Four new species of Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera,
Curculionidae, Entiminae, Pachyrhynchini) from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Biodiversity
Data Journal 9: e72453. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e72453
Schultze W (1925) A monograph of thepachyrrhynchid group of the Brachyderinae,
Curculionidae: Part III. The genera Apocyrtidius Heller and Metapocyrtus Heller. Philippine
Journal of Science, 26: 131-310, 12 pls

Yap A, Gapud V (2008) Taxonomic review of the Genus Metapocyrtus Heller (Coleoptera:
Curculionidae: Entiminae). The Philippine Entomologist 21 (2): 115-135, 2007

Yoshitake H (2017) Notes on Pachyrhynchini jewel weevils (Coleoptera: Cuculionidae:

Entiminae) and other insects showing remarkable resemblance in color and body pattern
characteristics. Gekkan-Mushi, 553: 22–40.